Necas scores twice, Blackwood makes 24 saves as Avalanche edge Stars 3-2 in Dallas

The Avalanche opened a home-and-home set with Dallas the hard way on Tuesday night, winning 3-2 at American Airlines Center in a physical game that included two fights, a bloodied Nathan MacKinnon and a late Stars push that Colorado survived with its goaltender pulled at the other end.

Colorado did it short-handed in personnel, if not on the ice. Defenseman Cale Makar stayed back in Denver with his wife, Tracy, who was expecting twins, and forward Zachary L'Heureux was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Reuters reported that the absences forced Colorado to play with 17 skaters, 11 forwards and six defensemen. The Hockey News reported Makar's absence the same way: the defenseman remained in Denver as his wife went into labor.

Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring in the first period, pouncing on a rebound of a Josh Manson shot that deflected off MacKinnon's skate and lifting a backhand past Jake Oettinger, according to The Hockey News game report. It was Lehkonen's fourth goal in six games. Tyler Seguin tied the game on a power play with 53.8 seconds left in the period, his shot deflecting off Lehkonen and in.

The second period decided the game and supplied its edge. Necas restored the lead at 2-1 on a one-timer after MacKinnon recovered a puck Necas had lost and fed him through traffic. MacKinnon then fought Roope Hintz early in the period after MacKinnon's own cross-check on Hintz, a bout that left him with a cut on the bridge of his nose, which The Hockey News reported was reopened by a punch; he went to the locker room for repairs and both players drew five-minute majors. During a brief five-on-three that followed later penalties, Necas finished at the back door for his second goal and a 3-1 lead. Blackwood protected it with a glove save on Sam Steel, alone in front after a turnover, before the period ended.

Dallas cut the lead at 3:23 of the third, Hintz one-timing a pass from Seguin in the low slot. Seguin finished with two points for the Stars, and Oettinger made 22 saves. Dallas pulled Oettinger late for an extra skater, but Colorado held on. Through 40 minutes the Avalanche had led 3-1 and held a 23-19 edge in shots, The Hockey News reported.

MacKinnon finished with two assists to go with the fight, in what Reuters noted was his second fight this season after a couple of years without one. Colorado head coach Jared Bednar, looking at the immediate rematch, pointed to the schedule as an equalizer. Reuters quoted Bednar saying, "You're not playing a rested team. That's advantageous."

The set concludes Wednesday night at Ball Arena, with a 6:30 p.m. puck drop, according to The Hockey News. Reuters reported that Scott Wedgewood is expected in net for Colorado, his second start of the season, with Casey DeSmith expected for Dallas. Whether Makar and L'Heureux return was not announced before the rematch.